Preheat oven to 350. Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Bake the bread cubes until lightly toasted, switching the positions of the baking sheets halfway through baking, 10 to 15 minutes total. Remove the bread cubes from the oven and set aside.

Heat 1½ tablespoons olive oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the sausages to the skillet and sauté until browned and cooked through, breaking up with back of fork or spoon, 5 to 7 minutes per batch. Transfer to a bowl large enough to hold the entire stuffing. (Do not clean the skillet).

Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, fennel, garlic, salt, and pepper and sauté until the onions are golden brown, stirring frequently, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the sausage. Mix in the toasted bread cubes.

Whisk the eggs, 1 cup half and half, Parmesan, broth, and parsley in a medium bowl to blend. Pour the egg mixture over the sausage-and-bread mixture and toss gently to coat. Transfer the stuffing to two 9×9 baking pans. Drizzle the remaining ½ cup half and half over the stuffing.

Bake the stuffing, covered with foil, for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered until the top begins to brown, about 20 minutes longer.

It has arrived! Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart, and my kitchen, not only because it is my favorite meal of the year, but because I want to craft a meal that feels as closely knit as the family and friends sitting around the table. For me, Thanksgiving’s greatest challenge is the timing. My suggestion is to be diligent about your lists and prep!

Emily

December 3, 2016

Made this on Thanksgiving, and it's the best stuffing I've ever had! Thank you so much for sharing!

Mary

March 26, 2017

We made this for Christmas and it made enough for 2 casserole dishes, one of which I stashed in the freezer and we just had it today with a BBQ turkey. It was just as fabulous today as it was in December. All our guests loved it and many asked for the recipe and claimed it was the best stuffing ever. For me, not a huge stuffing fan, it was deliciously the best I've ever had.